Abstract:

Objective:The aim of this experiment was to study acute toxicity and local stimulation of cucurbitacinBE poly-lactic acid nano-particles (CuBE-PLA-NP) fortargeting cervical lymph node.Methods:Various doses of CuBE-PLA-NP lyophilization injec- tion and cucurbitacinBE (CuBE) were hypodermically or veno-injected into the mice, and then the drug toxicity and side effects were observed; 50% lethal dose (LD50) was counted. CuBE-PLA-NP lyophilization injection and CuBEwere also injected into the quadriceps femoralis muscle of rabbits to observe the local stimulate responses of drugs.Results:The fifty percent lethal doses of subcutaneous and venous CuBE-PLA-NP in mice were 16174 mg/kg?1183 mg/kg and 5160 mg/kg?0183 mg/kg respectively, thatwere higher than those of CuBEwhich were 8163 mg/kg?1100 mg/kg and 2150 mg/kg?0130 mg/kg respectively. Local stimulate response in rabbit quadricepsfemoralismuscle afterCuBE-PLA-NP and CuBEinjected are 0 grade and 011 grade respec- tively.Conclusion:The acute toxicity of CuBE-PLA-NP is lower than thatof CuBE. Both CuBE-PLA-NP and CuBE are adequate for local injection, but the local stimulation of CuBE-PLA-NP is smaller than that of CuBE.

Key words: cucurbitacinBE, poly-lactic acid, nano-particles, targeted chemotherapy, side effects